#kitesurf – Medal winning Irish kitesurfer Jade O'Connor, who finished third overall in the Formula Kiteboarding Class in the important Palma Eurosaf regatta a month ago, launched a new campaign video in Clontarf last night.

O'Connor, who was named 'Woman Of The Year 2014' at Outsider Magazine's Awards, had an outstanding 2014 which saw her achieve eighth overall at the Worlds, fourth at the Europeans, and is the current British Ladies Champion. Jade competes in ISAF's Formula Kiteboarding Class which was showcased at ISAF Abu Dhabi Grand Finale last November.

The short film 12 minute film about O'Connor, who is Ireland's only representative at international level at the sport of Kite Racing covers her progress as the 2015 racing season kicks off and looks at some of O'Connor's winter training.

The kites made their first appearance in Palma this year for the Trofeo Sofia event. Ten challenging races were sailed by a mixed teams of male and female riders coming from all over the world to mark history witht the debut of kite racing alongside the usual ten Olympic classes.

A team of six kitesurfers are planning to cross the Irish Sea, from Cloghy in Northern Ireland to Silloth in West Cumbria.

Whilst not a record it will be the first time anyone has kited from Ireland to England.  Kirsty Jones was the first to kite from Ireland to Wales and Andreya Wharry almost kited from Cornwall to Ireland (130 miles), however she launched 15 miles off the coast and did not make landfall.  Some members of the team complete a crossing from the Isle of Man to England in 2008.

The current record stands at 140 miles. Kirsty Jones holds this from when she kited non-stop from Africa to Lanzarote.  

The team, Andrew Smith, Fraser Dooley, John Flinn, Martin Sandwith, Nick Elliott, Stuart Wood, are all experienced kitesurfers and are hoping to raise money for the RNLI and the NSPCC by doing the stunt.

Their site is kitesurfirishsea.co.uk and their promo video is visible below this post.